NANOTECHNOLOGY: What Is It? Are There Associated Environmental Concerns? Michael D. Gill US EPA ORD Hazardous Waste Technical Liaison to Region 9 Environmental Technology Council Seminar Series December 2, 2004

Research and Development at EPA 1,950 employees $700 million budget $100 million extramural research grant program 13 lab or research facilities across the U.S. Credible, relevant and timely research results and technical support that inform EPA policy decisions

Making decisions with sound science requires...  Relevant, high quality, cutting-edge research in human health, ecology, pollution control and prevention, economics and decision sciences  Proper characterization of scientific findings  Appropriate use of science in the decision process Research and development contribute uniquely to...  Health and ecological research, as well as research in pollution prevention and new technology  In-house research and an external grants program  Problem-driven and core research

Human Health Particulate Matter Drinking Water Clean Water Global Change Endocrine Disruptors Ecological Risk Pollution Prevention Homeland Security High Priority Research Areas

What is nanotechnology? What is different/special about nano (Applications)? What is the scope of nanotech now that might impact the environment (Implications)? What is the relationship of environmental protection to nanotechnology? (Our big challenge!) What are governments doing, including at US EPA? -Regulation -Research Outline

While many definitions for nanotechnology exist, the NNI* calls it "nanotechnology" only if it involves all of the following: 1. Research and technology development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately nanometer range. 2. Creating and using structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and functions because of their small and/or intermediate size. 3. Ability to control or manipulate on the atomic scale. What is nanotechnology? *National Nanotechnology Initiative

1. Nanotechnology is NOT a technology - it is a combination of chemistry, biology and materials science. 2. Could it be the next Industrial Revolution? Also…

100 µm10 µm1 µm100 nm10 nm1 nm0.1 nm Conventional Filtration Microfiltration Ultrafiltration Reverse Osmosis H 2 O (0.2 nm) Hemoglobin (7 nm) Virus ( nm) MicrobialCells (~1 µm) Protozoa (>2 µm) PM 2.5 Aerosols Nanoscale contaminants in water and air (little is known) Size Spectrum of Environmental Particles Pollens ( µm) Adenovirus 75 nm Bacteriophage 80 nm Influenza 100 nm E. Coli 1000 nm Fullerenes, nanotubes After Wiesner

NanostructureSize Example Material or Application Clusters, nanocrystals, quantum dots Radius: 1-10 nm Insulators, semiconductors, metals, magnetic materials Other nanoparticlesRadius: nm Ceramic oxides, Buckyballs NanowiresDiameter: nm Metals, semiconductors, oxides, sulfides, nitrides NanotubesDiameter: nm Carbon, including fullerenes, layered chalcogenides Adapted from J.Jortner and C.N.R.Rao, Pure Appl Chem 74(9), , 2002 What are the materials of nanotech?

Atom clusters, Quantum dots Magnetic properties possibly useful for recording; Unique thermal properties Novel electronic, optical, magnetic and catalytic properties ~fwise/QDAmp.html quantumdots.html

Fullerenes, nanotubes

Nanotubes can be either electrically conductive or semiconductive, depending on their helicity, leading to nanoscale wires and electrical components. These one-dimensional fibers exhibit electrical conductivity as high as copper, thermal conductivity as high as diamond, strength 100 times greater than steel at one sixth the weight, and high strain to failure. Nanotubes are cool materials

Characterizing Nanomaterials

Applications of Nanotechnology VDI

Applications of Nanotechnology VDI

SENSORS - improved monitoring and detection capabilities, better controls TREATMENT - Cleaning up waste streams of contaminants, particularly those substances that are highly toxic, persistent within the environment, or difficult to treat REMEDIATION - Cleanup of contaminated sites with problems brought about by prior technologies and past practices GREEN MANUFACTURING - Use of environmentally friendly starting materials and solvents, improved catalysts, and significantly reduced energy consumption in the manufacturing process GREEN ENERGY - Nano products such as Solar and fuel cells could lead to commercially viable alternative clean energy sources. Energy savings via light weight composites, embedded systems. ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS

NANO-GEOCHEMISTRY - Knowledge of formation of atmospheric aerosols, and the movement of natural nano particles in air and soil can help inform the solutions to man-made problems TOXICITY - Essential to risk analysis for ecosystem and human health FATE, TRANSPORT, TRANSFORMATION - Also essential to risk analysis EXPOSURE, BIOAVAILABILITY, BIOACCUMULATION - Determine exposure routes for both natural organisms in a variety of ecosystems and for humans in the environment INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY ASPECTS - Determine where in its lifecycle a nano material may cause impact to the environment, examine materials flow changes and environmental effects; use DfE, MFA, LCA tools [ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Raw Materials (Energy, Renewable Resources, Nonrenewable Resources) Disposal (Air Emissions, Liquid and Solid Wastes) J. Golden Material Processing Manu- facturing Use Recovery Management Distribution Remanufacture Reuse Recycle Nanotechnology must involve a Systems Approach to Environmental Protection: Life Cycle Assessment, Materials Flow Analysis The opportunity exists right now for doing nano right in the first place!

Each EPA employee has 1 computer with 1 CRT monitor 20,000 employees replace their CRTs with flat screen LCDs A Simple MFA example: Switching to nano 0.45 kg Pb/17 inch CRT (DfE Report, US EPA) 9 tons of Lead to be disposed of from EPA monitors! 0.8 M 3 Lead ~ volume of 7 oil barrels Nanotechnology can change this waste picture!

We are at the beginning of a Revolution in: How things are made And whether they are made Where things are made Rejeski, 2003

Rip van Winkle Scenario Slow Learning/Adaptation Environmental impacts are an unintended consequence of technology development and deployment and Regulation must be applied to reduce impacts Two Scenarios for coping with the new revolution Vulcan Scenario Fast Learning/Shaping Environment is co-optimized as a part of technology development and deployment, or is the primary goal Rejeski, 2003

Roco, J Nanopart. Res., Aug., 2003 Government R&D Expenditures

- National Nanotech Coordination Office (NNCO) created - 20 government agencies involved - “Best Management Practices” guide for industry being worked on by a multi-agency workgroup - NIOSH is aware of need for worker surveillance - not there yet - National Nanotech Initiative (NNI) created ( Purpose: - conduct R&D - better understand social, ethical, health, environmental implications - facilitate transfer of new technologies into commercial products - European Union has started developing testing standards (for occupational health) Government Activities

Regulations and Nanotechnology / Nanoparticles - 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 requires that the program ensure "that ethical, legal, environmental, and other appropriate societal concerns, including the potential use of nanotechnology in enhancing human intelligence and in developing artificial intelligence which exceeds human capacity, are considered during the development of nanotechnology...” * - Currently, there are no specific regulations or guidance for nanoparticles at OSHA, NIOSH, FDA, or EPA** * John Marburger (Director OSTP), speech at Sept 8, 2004 “Research Directions II Workshop” ** Neil Patel (EPA/OPPTS) of 8/23/04)

Regulations and Nanotechnology / Nanoparticles - EPA beginning to formulate regulatory and voluntary options on how to handle nanomaterials. The information developed on detection equipment, engineering controls, personal protective equipment, will be important in the development of these options.* Without the development of new control technologies, the short term and long term environmental and health impacts (through air, water, and landfill releases, as well as human inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact) remain unknown and potentially high risk.* * Neil Patel (EPA/OPPTS) of 8/23/04)

Prior to writing a regulation, one must: - develop consistent terminology (ANSI) - be able to classify the compound(s) in question - be able to monitor them...and... - determine their environmental impacts (eco/HH) Types of nanoparticles that may have environmental impacts: - carbon nanotube structures (for water filtration) - “quantum dots” or crystalline semiconductors (envir sensing/telecom) - metal oxide particles (for sunblock and various plastic components) Much more research needed before regs can be written Why Are There No Regulations???

Toxic Substances Control Act - TSCA - passed in gave EPA the power to regulate chemicals in commercial use with risk or potential risk to the environment, with concern given to economic and societal impacts (Precautionary Principle in mind) - TSCA seems to be the best regulation, at least as a model, for nanotechnology and nanoparticles. - “Regulation should be a process, not an event” (Reynolds, “Environmental Regulation on Nanotechnology: Some Preliminary Observations”, Environ. Law Reporter, 2001) - The time is NOW, not 5 years from now. - UK has no existing laws either, but similar process has been proposed, that is to modify existing laws for nanotech and be flexible as more is learned (Royal Society Report- “Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies” - Jul ‘04) Is TSCA Applicable?

Implications of interactions of nanomaterials with the environment and possible risks that may be posed by the use of nanotechnology. A Research Framework for Nano and the Environment Applications reactive to existing problems or proactive in preventing future problems.

Go to Publications/Proceedings

2001 RFA  Synthesis and Processing;  Characterization and Manipulation;  Modeling and Simulation;  Device and System Concepts 2001 RFA  Synthesis and Processing;  Characterization and Manipulation;  Modeling and Simulation;  Device and System Concepts EPA (NCER) Nanotechnology Activities  ACS Symposia-2003,04,05  Gordon Conference- 2006?  Grand Challenges Workshop  Interagency Environmental Conference  Edited journals  ACS Symposia-2003,04,05  Gordon Conference- 2006?  Grand Challenges Workshop  Interagency Environmental Conference  Edited journals Grantees’ workshops Aug.`02, ‘04 Grantees’ workshops Aug.`02, ‘04 Building a Green Nanotech Community 2002 RFA  Environmentally Benign Manufacturing and Processing;  Remediation/Treatment;  Sensors;  Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology 2002 RFA  Environmentally Benign Manufacturing and Processing;  Remediation/Treatment;  Sensors;  Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology SBIR Nanomaterials and Clean Technologies Environmental Applications Applications and Implications 2003/04 RFAs Health/Eco effects of manufactured nanomaterials 2003/04 RFAs Health/Eco effects of manufactured nanomaterials Implications EPA NanoMeeters Dec Societal Implications II Wilson Center Meetings

Swiss Re:Nanotechnology Small Matter, Many Unknowns ( International Dialogue on Responsible Nanotechnology( prgm/nano/dialog.htm) Societal Implications of Nanotechnology ( Some Documents to be aware of: Chemical Industry R&D Roadmap for Nanomaterials By Design: From Fundamentals to Function (

“it is important that claims of likely environmental benefits are assessed for the entire lifecycle of a material or product, from its manufacture through its use to its eventual disposal. We recommend that lifecycle assessments be undertaken for applications of nanotechnologies.” Royal Society Report ( VDI Report:Technological Analysis Industrial application of nanomaterials - chances and risks content/tz/zuknftigetechnologien/11.pdf Call for open public dialog

- Nanotechnology is a very powerful new approach that will change our industries and our lives. - We have a very small window right now to bring up this technology right—to learn from past mistakes and concurrently look at the possibility of harmful implications as we increase the applications. - It’s a topic too important to neglect. Let’s not replay the last Industrial Revolution wrt pollution. - P2 can make a difference…… B. Karn, 2004 Take Home Messages:

Barbara Karn, Jeff Morris, Pasky Pascual (EPA’s Office of Research and Development) Acknowledgements King Features Syndicate, September 22, 2004

Questions??